Golfgal on GFW

Big Break Ka'anapali - Episode 7: What goes around...

Well, this interview was a very pleasant surprise.  After seeing Tina Miller leave last week's Big Break Ka'anapali under the umbrella of the "choke" comment, I thought she might be a little bitter.  Many would be.  In fact, we saw a number of the ladies this week give Christina Lecuyer the cold shoulder or worse as a result of her whispered comment to Susan.

So when I called Tina, I was expecting more of the same, but that's not what happened...

Class act, don't you think?

Tina will be joining us again next week to share her thoughts on Episode 8 of the Big Break Ka'anapali.  We've all heard that it's going to be "hot" (and I'm talking about the weather) so I hope you'll come back and share your thoughts on it as well.

Golfgal

www.golfgal-blog.com

Big Break Ka'anapali - Episode 7: Can't get enough of Maui

Well, it was another beautiful day in paradise on Big Break Ka'anapali, especially for Kim Welch who won the immunity challenge by the skin of her Titleist and was rewarded with a bonus golf trip back to Hawaii!  Wow...nice bonus!  And Just a few chip shots was all it took. 

Hmmm...maybe I should take up this game full time...how hard can it be to hit a little white ball inside a 3 foot diameter circle?  Whooa, Golfgal!!!  Stick to your day job!  Chipping for dough is like singing for your dinner.  You'll starve!  [LOL, I feel like I'm in one of the new Ping commercials]

Anyway, it was a very good day for Kim and one I'm sure she'll never forget.  it was also an unforgettable day for Courtney, Christina and Lori but for much different reasons. Let's hear Kim's perspective on the elimination challenge and the battle of the barbs.

For those of you who don't follow the Duramed Futures Tour, you should check it out.  There are some real up and comers playing there. Kim is currently in 6th place. 

Play well this week, Kim and get inside the top 5.  Would love to see you full time on the LPGA next year!

Golfgal

www.golfgal-blog.com

Big Break Ka'anapali Episode 7: Target golf, without the golf

So we're halfway through Big Break Ka'anapali.  Heading into tonight's show were seven talented ladies who, while thankful they were still alive, were feeling a lot of pressure to stay in the running.

Courtney was unfortunately eliminated this week, but the elimination challenge was actually quite good -- some solid golf played by both her and Samantha.

You'd think that would be enough for a great show, but nope!  Golf wasn't the focus of this episode.  Hey!  It's reality television...and television rating success is spelled M-U-D S-L-I-N-G-I-N-G.

I've got some great interviews for you tonight and the rest of the week from current and past players.  You've heard Lori's side of this cat fight, so now it's Christina's turn.

Let's listen to what she has to say after watching the behind the scenes antics that she may or may not have known about, all those months ago.

So are we having fun yet?   My, my... I can't imagine the "heat of the battle" heating up any more than it already has, but apparently, there's lots more to come next week. 

Can you handle it?  ;)  Then I'll meet you back here next week. 

Meanwhile, check back Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week for more interviews with Kim Welch, Tina Miller and Cirbie Sheppard and get their thoughts on this week's show.

Golfgal

www.golfgal-blog.com

Big Break Ka'anapali - Episode 7: Teflon Lori Sticks it to her Roommate

As I was watching tonight's Big Break Ka'anapali, I was immediately struck by the elevated tension in the air between all of the players and their latest target -- Christina Lecuyer.

Lori started by the show by saying, "This is my office and I'm going to take care of business." And did she ever!  If she wasn't giving Christina the "stinkeye" (what is that anyway?), she was dishing out some of the best trash talking we've heard on this show thus far.

After watching the show, I had to know...was it  because Lori was upset about Christina's "choke" comment last week OR was it because she saw Christina as her toughest competitor and wanted to start playing mind games with her?

So I called Lori after the show aired and asked her about tonight's episode and her role in the drama.  Take a listen and then you decide.

Lori did warn us last week that it was the tip of the iceberg and she was right.  To learn Christina's side of this cat fight, just keep coming back to Big Break Central on GFW.  There's lots more to come!

Golfgal

PS: Unfortunately I could only share about 10 minutes from Lori's interview due to some technical constraints, but I will post the other part of the interview later this week, where she shares how different the pressure is on the BB compared to LPGA events and who her favorite LPGA player is. 

Get to know Big Break Ka'anapali's Golf Vixen, Cirbie Sheppard

Although the time spent with Cirbie Sheppard was short, there's one thing I can say for sure...she left a big impression.  How could anyone possibly forget the barefooted Golf Vixen as she stepped up to play the elimination challenge of her life against Tina Miller in episode three?

If we had been able to zoom on the BMW Zone during that challenge, I am sure we would have seen some jaws drop.  She really gave Tina a run for her money and walked away from the BB in style.  Speaking of style...I think she should be a guest on "Golf with Style." What do you think?

I caught up with Cirbie last week just after she finished walking her dogs: Tank,  a Rottweiller /Pit Bull crossbreed; and Maxim, a Boston Terrier. She calls them "the lil bundles of joy" in her life. When I heard that, I just knew she was my kind of girl.

So Cirbie, I'm curious how you came to be part of the BB.

I had joined the Cactus Tour as an amateur and played some tournaments and then turned pro. I injured my wrist pretty badly, but still continued to play a couple of tournaments. The coordinator saw how badly my wrist was swollen and unfortunately, the scores were pretty bad as a result, so I had to withdraw. 

The Golf Channel was holding auditions for the Cactus Tour players at the Legacy Course in Arizona.  I bought a house on that course, so it was pretty convenient for me.

On the day of my audition, my fiancee was going on tour in Europe and he left at 4 a.m. that morning.  Then I had to get up and be ready at 9, and so I said, "I just need to get some eggs and stuff into my system and I swear I'll be fun." <giggles> And they said, "Oh, you're high maintenance already on us, huh?"

I was so nervous because I had never auditioned for anything like that before, so I had to chug a couple of beers down to calm my nerves. <LOL!>  But it was fun and [it] worked out.  A few weeks later, they gave me the call for the semi-finalists and after that I got the call for the finalists and that was amazing. I was completely blown away to be chosen.

So you had to go to three sets of interviews...

Yeah, and they did background checks on us and they told me that I had a criminal misdemeanor because I was going to court for a DUI.  So they called me the second I got out of court, which was pretty funny,  but everything went fine with that and they picked me for the show.

You really played your heart out on that show, battling Tina Miller to the very end.  Tell me what was going through your mind at that time.

You know I was just hoping that I could perform... unlike I did the first couple of days.  I was very disappointed how I performed the first couple of days because it made me look like I was a terrible player and that I didn't belong there. And I knew the viewers would just be hating me. 

So to be able to go into elimination very strong, and then in a playoff and give her a run for her money, I knew that I could throw it back in everybody's face. So I was nervous, but filled with adrenalin because I was pumped and focused -- very focused!  I really wanted to beat her so bad! <giggles> 

But I started getting too creative with the shot.  And then there was that putt which was a golden opportunity...definitely missed.  But everything happens for a reason and I was happy to go, because all the other girls had been playing for so long -- they deserved it more.  I was tickled pink to be there in the first place.

More like tickled black - you wear a lot of black :)

<laughs> Definitely tickled black <laughs> -- that's a good one!

Yes, you really did look focused.  And sometimes when you're really focused, time seems to stand still. Your pace of play was talked about a lot.  Did you realize how long you were taking?

They were trying to make a TV show and I know for a fact that they missed a few things.  Also, they over exaggerated the time limit.  I remember them coming up and telling me what the time was, but personally I think it was well under three minutes.  And I remember the Marshall coming up and telling me that.  But considering what they have to do on the show... and they edit it for certain reasons (and we signed pretty much our life away on that show <giggles>), I just had to suck it up and let it look like I took a lifetime. <laughs> 

I did take a long time, but I was so scared of mis-hitting it on a short shot like I did the first couple days because my wrist just won't allow me to make that kind of shot.  So I was in choppy grass and I was thinking, "Oh God!  Should I putt or should I chip? You know what's going to happen if I skull it, it's not going to be good."  So I decided to putt and I was nervous and they said that could hear my heartbeat in the microphone.

We were all on pins and needles watching it.  One of the things I love about this whole series is that I have no idea what's going to happen on each show.  And so watching you that night, I actually thought you were going to take her.

Yeah...I thought I was too!  And then I went, "Ah...oh well...everything happens for a reason." <laughs>  I think I and Cougar Momma were the only girls who were eliminated that didn't cry.  I was always told, "Oh we cried in the car on the way there to the interview, or I cried here or there..." Then they'd ask, "Hey Cirbie, when did you cry?" And I said, "I didn't cry at all.  I was just laughing -- I thought it was awesome that I could finally perform and show you guys I do have game." I could leave on a high note. 

So tell me what happens when you do leave the show. I've heard you stick around in Hawaii, but what do you do with yourself?

All the remaining contestants are on one side of the Sheraton resort and the "eliminated" go onto the other side.  The first day I did para-sailing and snorkeling.  That was pretty cool. And we did things like whale watching and some of the girls did surfing, but the waves were only a foot high so I didn't want to surf.  I like the big ones <chuckles>  I went sunbathing.

Did you get your own room or did you have to bunk up like you did on the contestant side?

Just for the first night and then whoever gets eliminated next gets to room with you.  I had Liz in my room.  I remember that Adrienne was very shook up about how she was eliminated and so she needed some time to herself. So I told her she could have her own room so she could think about things and have her emotions come out...and we were there if she needed us.

I heard you and Adrienne and Liz showed up on the set -- were you allowed to do that?

<laughs> No, what's funny is TGC producers haggled us about it, but they gave us the vouchers to eat lunch there that day.  So we said, "You gave us the vouchers to come up here and we happened to notice that there was an elimination going on. So of course, we're going to watch."  You could see us just in the very background for a split second on TV.

Have you been following the series on TV?

Oh yeah, my family and my fiancee and my friends come over and watch it and we have some brewskies and we cook some food and we make a fiesta out of it.

We'll watch the week before and then we'll watch the new one so we're all caught up and don't miss anything.  Cause it's fun...it's a lot of fun, especially for me, because I know those girls and the event of a lifetime that we experienced together.  We'll always remember that and cherish it no matter what.

[Aside...for those of you who don't know who Cirbie's fiancee is, I think he's from Vancouver and his name is Troy Healy.  He's the guitarist for the very popular hard-rock band Neurosonic.  I just went to their website and you know...I'm not into hard rock (Aerosmith is the closest I get :)), but they are really good!].

So have you stayed in touch with the other ladies?

A lot of us stay in touch.  I see Christina and Lori.  Kim and Adrienne and I stay in touch via texting on our phones...and some of the other girls on email. Tina and I touch base on MySpace. 

Adrienne actually came out to one of Troy's concerts at the House of Blues in Texas.  She came out one night and got to meet my family and got to meet Troy and we got to go backstage and hang out with all those people...she had a lot of fun.

Have there been any surprises for you on the episodes so far?

You know, in the very first episode, one of the girls chunked her shot about 10 yards and they didn't show that at all. 

Who was that?

Sophie...ya, they took that out, which was very strange. That's when we were Team Pink and we were hitting up and into the wind on a par 3 into the third hole. So they can portray people any way they want.

And there have been a couple of others, but...C'est la vie...we've signed our life away. <laughs>

But I think they portrayed each of us pretty well.  Now the personalities are starting to come out and there are more cat fights.

I have a journal and I wrote in it everyday, and with each new girl that was eliminated I would ask her, "What's the gossip...what happened...what's going on..." and I'd write it all down.  It's nice to look back now and see what's going to happen each week and then see how it is portrayed through the camera.

You should publish that when it's over.  I'd love to put it up on GFW after the show's all over.

That would be awesome.

Are you continuing to play golf?

Yes!  I never had my wrist fully heal, so I was doing some chip shots and some sand shots with the golf simulator at my house and I hit one a little fat and the shock just shot up my arm and it numbed my pinkie and ring finger pretty badly for about 20 minutes. 

After that I wasn't able to grip very well, so I went to the doctor and got it x-rayed and thank God, nothing was broken.  But he said it was such a bad sprain that it never healed properly.  I kept playing on it and doing things so that it couldn't set itself.  So I had to wear a brace for a few weeks and finally got it taken off last week.  But if I do anything that is extracurricular, I have to wear the brace.  So I can't really get out to the golf course too much right now, but I'm planning to.

And I'm also planning my wedding!

Really...that's so great.  When's the big day?

June 10th.

Wow, you have to send me pictures so I can post them here.

It's going to be a rock and roll kind of wedding, so there's going to be golf tees and guitar picks on the tables that are personalized with Cirbie and Troy...lots of fun stuff.

You are such a positive person.  How did being on the BB change your life or did it?  What did you learn?

<giggles> Well, I knew going in I was definitely in over my head, but I was going to put forth the most effort that I possibly could and I told them that.  And they said, "Well, if you're a deer in headlights, just suck it up!"

It has changed my life in terms of my golf game...I don't think I'll really be nervous over another golf shot for quite a long time.  It will be a breeze because I won't have to see anyone around.  There were so many crew guys and cameras constantly in your face. 

But really, it was the experience of a lifetime.  And it was definitely a highlight in my life, but not "of" my life, because I'm 24 and I still have my whole entire life ahead of me.

Anything you want to add for our readers?

Just that I am very versatile person and golf is just one of those natural abilities that I picked up.  And to be able to put that forth to the world was amazing.  It was kick-ass!  I loved it! And I'm coming back...don't forget about me because I will be out there!

No worries there, Cirbie!  You will definitely NOT be forgotten! When people first see her, many are taken aback a little because she dresses a bit differently and golfing barefoot isn't exactly conventional.  But now that I've talked with her, I'm so impressed with her positive outlook on life, her confidence and the joy that radiates through the phone, I hope some day I'll get to meet the Golf Vixen in person. 

Golfgal

www.golfgal-blog.com

2 Big Breakers Reunite at CN Canadian Women's Tour Event

For all of you Big Break Ka'anapali fans who wonder what goes on after the BB is over...well, here's a secret...life goes on and win or lose, you just keep playing the game we all love.   I still don't know who wins and I really don't want to know, but what I do know is that these ladies are fantastic golfers and fantastic competitors and really great golfgals!

Last week I had such a great time following Christina Lecuyer and Susan Choi around on the final round of the CN Canadian Women's Tour event in Vancouver BC.  It was a cold and very windy day, but that didn't dampen the spirits of either of our feisty competitors.

I followed Christina through nine holes of play, where she battled the winds and made some amazing clutch putts over and over again to par holes in a tournament where there were no red numbers to be found on the leaderboard.  It was a very tough day.

Then I followed Susan on her back nine and was blown away by her amazing short game, which led to  birdies for four consecutive holes.  It was quite the sight to see!  And to think that everyone on the BB thought she didn't have game.  WRONG!!!

Susan ended up tied for first place, but unfortunately lost in a playoff - but it was an exciting one.  In the end, the trophy went to 17-year-old Sue Kim, who became the first amateur ever to win on the CN Canadian Women's Tour.  Very impressive!

I have to say, however, that what I enjoyed the most was sitting down with Christina and Susan after the event to reminisce about the Big Break.  Don't forget last week's episode when Susan spilled the beans on Christina's "choke" comment.  Do you think a grudge lingers between these two? Well, see for yourself...

Tomorrow, I invite you back for an inside look into Cirbie Sheppard's life before, during and after the Big Break and hear her thoughts on the whole BB experience.

Golfgal

www.golfgal-blog.com

Big Break Bomber Kim Welch joins the party

I don't think I've had so much fun in years.  What started as a lark to follow fellow Canadian, Christina Lecuyer, on the Big Break Ka'anapali has turned into many fun filled weeks of watching Christina and the show, meeting more of the ladies and having the best gab sessions I've had in years.

Today was no exception.  I had a wonderful conversation with the Big Break Bomber, Kim Welch, and found out a few things I didn't know before.  And of course, she had her own views on the series and what we've seen so far, which I'll love sharing with you.

Before I get to Big Break, I'd like to congratulate Kim on her T2 finish at the Bright House Networks Open (Lakeland, FL) in March.  She's now sits sixth  on the Duramed Futures Tour money list.  Did you know that the top five at the end of the  year receive exempt status on the LPGA Tour for the following year? Only one more notch Kim-- you can do it!  You go, girl!

Kim, congratulations on your success on the Futures Tour and thanks for being with us today.  Let's start with this week's show.  First impressions...any surprises?

It was crazy watching the show with my family and seeing their reactions to  Christina's little comment that she made. <giggles>

Want to share some of those reactions with us?

I guess it was what you'd expect...they just couldn't believe it.  This girl just doesn't know how to behave on the golf course.  You know...she has no sportsmanship.

Were you really surprised by that, given how competitive she has been up until now on the series?

It was a complete shocker.  We all knew that she was competitive, but that's just taking it to a whole new level.  That's just something that nobody has really ever heard on the golf course before.

Okay, let's talk about the show and your challenges.  We've heard from Lori, and from watching you on previous shows, that you're not exactly enamored with team play.  What did you think when you heard that you'd be playing on a team?

I thought, "Oh, great! Here we go again. But, you know it wasn't too bad.  At least it was just a two-person team competition.  So I think that was a little bit better.  But Tina was my teammate, so I felt alright with it.

If you had been allowed to pick your own teammate, who would you have chosen out of the ladies that were still on the show?

I think Lori would be the obvious pick. She's just so spot-on with everything.  Her game's just so good that no matter what challenge comes up, I think, "Oh...I'd like to be partnered with Lori."

I guess that begs this question: If you had to pick your strongest competitor, who would it be of all the 11 other ladies?

I think Lori , Adrienne and Sam were the three that I thought would do pretty well on the show.

Well, I just got off the phone with Lori and it is fun to hear all the different perspectives from the ladies.  Do you think that the show is portraying you accurately?

I think they are doing alright with it. I don't look too much into it and I don't spend a lot of time analyzing how they are trying to make me look.  Just from watching the show every week, that's pretty much how I am -- I'm pretty quiet and I make sarcastic little comments here and there.  But overall, I try to stay out of things and just let the clubs do the talking, whether it's good or bad. <chuckles>

Well, your clubs definitely have received attention on the show and on the golf forums, especially your driver. It was pretty interesting to hear you say last week that when you stand over a putt, you're like a 2-year-old and don't quite know what to do with it. To have a game that is so strong in one area and then another area where you aren't as confident is a very interesting mix.

I think it's a common thing that pops up in professional golf.  You just lose confidence in areas of your game for no good reason, but it just happens and I just admitted it.

So what's been your favorite part of the series so far?

I think it is really cool to see how the producers have pieced the show together.  We've been waiting so long to see it and we're watching it for the first time [along] with everybody else. It's not like we got to preview the show before [it aired].  It's just interesting because we all have our own perspectives and now we are getting to see the producer's and other people's perspectives.  Like, I never knew what the girls were saying in their confessionals and their interviews, so it's interesting to see all the comments that were made.

So what's your least favorite thing, besides the team play.

Yeah, the team play just gets old, but...I don't know...in my opinion, I know it's a reality TV show about women, but they just do so many camera angles with their legs, <pauses, then laughs> that's probably my least favorite.

I have to ask you about your trademark bandanna. When did you start wearing that to play golf?

I started wearing them on the golf course right after college.  In college that wouldn't have been a good thing to wear when you are on teams and all trying to look the same.  I've always had them, but I just hadn't worn them on the golf course before that. 

So you've always worn them as fashion accessories before? 

Ya ya...

Sponsors may have a little trouble placing logos on your bandannas :)

Ha ha...I know...they'll get around it.

Any closing remarks?

I think up to this point there hasn't been too much drama or too much controversy, but I think we're getting into the thick of it now. It should just get more and more exciting every week.

Funny, I thought there'd been a ton of drama! I guess we're in for quite a ride if the past is considered "tame" compared to the future.  Thanks Kim!

Well, I think you'll agree with me that all the ladies have a lot to offer to the post Big Break episode analysis.  I'll be back with Kim's views on next week's show sometime wee into the hours of Wed a.m., so stay tuned.

Golfgal

www.golfgal-blog.com

Lori Atsedes joins "Big Break Central"

Welcome back to the Big Break Ka'anapali recap of Episode 6 - and the gang's almost all here!  You've heard from Christina, and from Tina.  Now, I am very pleased to have Lori Atsedes join us to talk about her experiences and insights on  Big Break Ka'anapali, past, present -- but oh, not the future.

No...the future is still a big secret -- and one that seems to be chock full of surprises.  As Lori said in her last blog post -- this week's drama was just the tip of the iceberg -- storms are coming.

Lori is an amazing women with an incredible past.  If you haven't read her bio, you really should check it out.  I love the way this woman has come from the depths of drug addiction to someone who, as Brittany Lincicome said, "has a lot of potential to be a great player."

Lori, welcome! It's a real pleasure to have you join us.  First impressions on last night's episode? 

It is really interesting to watch yourself on television, but I was kind of glad that Samantha and I didn't have to do much work that day.  Watching the show, it was nice to sit back and not be part of the drama that went on after the show.

There certainly was enough drama this week. Besides the "choke" issue, any other surprises/comments?

Well, I know that Kim and I, over the previous shows, have voiced our opinions about why are we always in teams.  You know we really want it to come down to us, not whether our teammates played well or played badly.  I know that Kim doesn't want to be on a team, and she finds herself again in a team and having to go into elimination. 

You really want to rely on your own performance. It's a tough situation for golfers because it's not a team sport.  Courtney struggled and that put Sophie in a bind, but yet they pulled through.

Christina  and Susan -- they didn't even hit the green from 105 yards. But you can't blame each other there.

But when Kim made a 4, almost a 5, and then her partner [Tina] squeaked out a 2...<pauses>  Kim hit good shots and now she's going to go [into] another elimination.  So I think the team thing is starting to get to all of us.

Yes, I remember hearing you say in a previous episode that you didn't like teams, but I think Sam was pretty happy to have you on her team.  She looked like she needed a bit of a confidence boost and I think you gave that to her.

Yeah, it worked out fine for me on that show. I'm a mother at heart; I just can't help it.  I just want to help everybody. <chuckles>

When the series first started, you were portrayed as a very aggressive "Get in my way and I'll knock you over" type of person. Is it me, or have you mellowed a lot in the last couple of shows?

You know, I am in who I am -- a kind of "in your face" person.  The word that has been used for me is "intimidating," but that's only because I'm not saying a lot.  If you got to know me, you'd know that I'd probably do anything for you.

I think in the beginning of the show, everybody was feeling each other out and the pressure of teams really bothered me, because I didn't want to come all that way and be eliminated because I had three players on my team [who] don't play like I do.  So I had a hard time in the beginning with teams. 

In one episode I got really irritated, and I don't normally get irritated when I play golf.  I've made a conscious effort over the years to only play if it was fun for me. And I made a conscious effort after that show that I needed to relax and loosen up because that's not who I am. I'm not aggressive; I'm not uptight; I'm a very laid-back person. But I'm intense about my golf. 

So after that episode I got irritated and I said [to myself], "You know what..this is not worth it. If I'm going to be here, I'm going to have fun with this and if I'm in a team and I get eliminated, I get eliminated.  But I've got to get out of the way here -- I'm in my own way."

I really enjoy your blog.  When do you write it each week, after the show or before?

They [TGC] call me on Thursday or Friday and tell me what is going to be on the show to jog my memory.  They have an idea of what points they want me to write about OR I can do my own. They give me the weekend to write it -- I have to get it in by Monday so they can post it right after the show.

You mentioned in your blog earlier in the series that you and Christina were "iron sharpening iron".  At one point in an earlier episode, you mention that she was getting a little too intense for you.  And this week you mentioned that you have a roomie that other girls are starting to have a problem with. But then I see you watching her hit that shot after Kim missed and you said, "I say she does this in one."  I get the feeling that you two have an interesting relationship -- a combination of respect and tension at the same time.

I think that Christina and I, up to this point, have gotten along because we are very similar.  She's very intense about her golf and even though she hasn't played a long time, she still knows what she wants to do. There's something about having that kind of personality -- whether you can do it or not, people will still believe you can.

I think her intensity shows other people that she's probably going to pull this shot off. And she may not pull it off, but the way she acts about it says she'll probably pull it off.  We've seen her miss shots and we've seen her make shots.  She's been a little bit all over the board, so some people are not able to figure her out. 

But I think because our personalities are similar, we kind of have that unspoken understanding of each other.  Now I can't say what she thinks of me,  but when you don't know somebody, all you have to go on is how they carry themselves, and what you've seen.  I've seen good shots...I've seen bad shots. But I've always seen her carry herself in a strong way.  She's got enough confidence to override something that might be bad.

Based on your earlier comments, it sounds like your least favorite thing on the BB is too many team events.  What has been your favorite part of the series so far, besides breaking glass? Everyone says that :)

Yeah, that was fun, but I like to parallel golf with my life. I would probably never put myself in a situation where I would have to spend 16 days with 11 other girls that I play golf with or don't play golf with.

I had to decide... do I want to spend the effort getting to know them better or just getting to know them?  There are a lot of people who think I am intimidating [as] I only want to go to a certain point in a relationship because I don't have time.  But this time, I put myself out there, because I realized that sometimes I'm a hard ass.

I really enjoyed getting to know my friends better and I found out things I didn't know about any of my friends.  I know what they've heard about me over the years, [that] I am tough to get to know.  But I laid that aside and decided, " I'm here and this is a great opportunity.  I'm going to do my best to enjoy everything about this experience."  So, I was able to put down some of that hard exterior and let people really see me. And in turn, it gave me a better understanding of them and we are all better friends for it now.

That's great, because this show doesn't appear to create friendships, but more like break them, because you're always competing and the show creates drama. It must be hard to compete during the day and then have a really good time at night.

But you know, it's just a television show and it's still just like going to a golf tournament. There's going to be a prize at the end and 143 other ladies aren't going to win anything.  It's not all about the heat of the battle. There's more to it than just that moment. 

You have to live a little life to realize that this isn't everything. You saw Adrienne leave, but you didn't see how she handled being knocked off the show early.  She built herself up and built it up...almost too much.  And she took it very hard.  You can't let things like that dictate who you are.  It was just a television show that we got the privilege to be a part of and if something good comes out of it, then something good comes out of it. But if something good doesn't come out of it, there's still something good to come out of it.

I sometimes wonder if the cameras and microphones portray people as they really are.  How much of it is real?

A lot of it is real.  The problem that I have is that I don't have a lot of tolerance for ignorance. I think all the people on the show are fun, but some are not going to be as close to you as others.  But I have a hard time with younger players that act [like] they don't have a clue. 

It probably shows up on the show that Susan gets on my nerves.  I am at the age where I need people to act more like adults.  I nicknamed everyone on the show, and I gave her the nickname, "Dip and Dots" -- you know the ice cream that's shaped in round little balls?  When I first met Susan, I said [to myself], "Oh my gosh, this is 'Dip and Dots.' " It's ice cream that wants to be ice cream but has no idea how to be ice cream.  We had a flavor of the day every day for her!  And "Tutti Fruity" usually won -- we had fun with that.  I saw her a couple of days ago and I still called her "Dip and Dots."

Any comments on the ladies who have left the show or past shows you want to share that didn't come out in interviews and confessional?

I think in the beginning I was put out there as the bad guy, and you know, in a lot of ways I can see why people would see that and why they would say that.  But I think people in the last few shows have seen a different side of me, but only because the cameras were showing them that side because they needed to form personalities and characters to identify to the viewing audience. 

But what I think I'd like people to know is that I am going to be as tough as tough comes when it comes to my golf. But when it comes to people, I'm going to be kind-hearted and caring and I would probably do anything for you.  I think the show has actually shown both sides of me at this point.

But whatever comes of the remaining shows, I'm glad that people are seeing who I really am now and not just [how]  The Golf Channel wants to portray me.

Thanks Lori!  I am looking forward to hearing all the other nicknames you have for the other ladies next week.

Stay tuned for more Big Break interviews later this week, when  Kim and Cirbie will be joining me!

And don't forget, all the BB posts are easily reached right here.  So bookmark that page and keep refreshing, because more's coming!

Golfgal

www.golfgal-blog.com

Big Break Ka'anapali - Stop choking around

Hi everyone! Did you enjoy tonight's drama?  I sure did.  Wasn't it great to see the two Brittanys of the LPGA join the ladies on the BB?

I knew about Brittany Lincicome joining the Big Break Ka'anapali, but I wasn't aware that Brittany Lang, who tied for second at this past weekend's Sybase Classic, was part of the mix.  So for those of you who think I'm "in the know", think again.  I watch every show with the same information as you -- I'm in the dark and I'm loving it that way!

This week was yet another great hour of television and golf drama and Christina was right in the middle of it. Haha...

Christina's in Vancouver playing in a Canadian Women's event this week and we were able to connect in person to watch and talk about show.  I couldn't pass up an opportunity to do something a little different and videotape my interview with Christina.    I hope you enjoy it.

Well, there's no doubt the camera loves her, even if some of the other BB ladies don't. Something tells me there's more drama coming for Christine, so I hope you'll join us again next week.

BTW... yes, I am keeping my day job -- no multimedia career changes for me :)

Golfgal

www.golfgal-blog.com

Big Break Ka'anapali - Tina Takes a Tumble

Time once again for a Big Break heartbreak...Tina Miller has left Big Break Ka'anapali.  There's just a handful left of the ladies.  I don't know about you, but I'm going to be very sad when this series is over.  I look forward to watching the show and talking to these great gals every week.

For all of Tina's fans, it's a sad day, but we know gone does not mean forgotten, and we'll continue to chat with Tina throughout the series.  Here's another great post-episode interview with the stylish golfgal herself...

When we first saw the two pyramids on the range, we thought maybe they had a challenge with the girls that had already been eliminated and that two of them were coming back.  So we were all throwing some ideas out there.  Even at the breakfast table that morning, we all said, "I have a feeling we're going to have guest appearances today." 

Actually, a couple of days before this challenge, I was walking to the putting green and I saw Brittany Lang. And I thought, "Oh, she must be here on vacation." It never crossed my mind that she'd be part of the competition. <laughs>

It was neat to see them both, because I played junior golf with Brittany Lincicome and college golf against Brittany Lang. Both are really nice girls and all of us want to be where they are today.

Brittany Lang played really well this past weekend, tying for second at the Sybase Classic.

She's probably one of the strongest players I've ever played with. She hit a 5-iron out of the thick rough like it was a pitching wedge.  I was just blown away.  But Brittany Lincicome is really long too. In junior golf, I think she was 14 years old and drove a hole that was 350 yards -- she's extremely long.

Okay, you already know this question is coming.  You and Christina created the drama on this week's show.  I realize you didn't know that Christina whispered, "Come on, choke!" when you were about to hit your shot, but you did hear her say, "Yes!" after you missed your shot.  How did that affect your play?

I was a little upset, but when I first heard it I knew I could easily create drama for the Golf Channel here.  I could go up to her and say, "Look, that was inappropriate." OR I could focus on my shot and hit it in the circle and that's what I did. 

But later, after Christina and Susan got immunity, when Kim and I walked to the golf cart, that's when I lost it.  I was so upset that somebody would react to a missed shot that way.  I just didn't think at our level that people did that sort of thing. I thought it was very amateur/junior golf behavior. 

I know that she's a competitive person and I really tried to give her the benefit of the doubt, but in the back of my head, I was thinking, "Are you kidding me!?  We're professional golfers.  Okay, Annika Sorenstam may wish Lorena Ochoa to miss a shot, but if Lorena did miss a putt, do you think Annika would go, 'Yes!'?"

When you found out from Susan later that day that Christina wanted you to choke, what was your reaction?

I really tried to forget about it until after the elimination challenge.  I wanted to focus all my energy on that, but I was completely floored by somebody saying that.  I just thought that at this level we should have better sportsmanship.  I knew that everybody who was on the show was there for a reason -- we all want to win.  That's a given --  you should always play to win.  But after seeing it on television, I was disgusted by it.

So then what happened?

Before we left Maui, I did confront her about it and she and I have kind of patched things up, but I hope that she's learned from that.  On a professional level, you can think things like that, but just don't say it out loud for everybody to hear, unless it's a different type of situation where you're playing around, like at a celebrity pro-am and it's on television and you're bantering back and forth.  But for a competition where there is a lot on the line, you just don't do that -- it's really not classy.

I thought that the elimination challenge looked pretty tough, having to get up and down from 120, 90, 60, 30 in all that wind.

You know I did too. In [2007] I was scrambling so much on the golf course that I thought, "I've done this plenty of times." <laughs>. But I thought, to get up and down and get a two from the farthest distance, that's like a birdie on a par three. You could do it.  I really tried my best, and obviously I fell a little bit short.  Again, the wind was a major factor in this challenge.  The green was really quick. If you were any where past the pin, it was super fast -- extremely quick. 

On the third challenge, I almost chipped it in.  I was so close to chipping in and I was so bummed.  I thought, "You know... I chip in all the time when I play with my fiance and he hates it <laughs>.  How funny would this be if I chipped in to stay safe."  But then I just missed. 

In the playoff with Courtney, that must have been pretty tough for you both, given your friendship.

At the time I wasn't thinking that I wanted to eliminate my friend.  I was thinking that I wanted to stay safe. Obviously for me, as I said on the show, it was a lose-lose situation.   Courtney and I have been friends for a few years now and it was a blessing for me to be roomed with her -- for both of us to stay and get past the first elimination challenge. To stick it out as long as I did, I thought was good.   

I didn't think that I was going to go home that day because I actually played better golf than I did in the other shows. That was the day when I felt the most comfortable.  I thought, "Just when you let you guard down, you don't get through."

It's hard to remember because so much happened that day, but I think Courtney and I had two playoffs, but I think they had to cut it for TV time - I'm not 100 percent sure on that. But I remember us laughing about having to go back again and again every day.

What about that decision for Kim to hit that shot against Christine?  Why were you so uncomfortable with the shot?

In the first part of the show with Kim, I didn't hit great shots.  A lot of people said that I should have done the playoff shot with Christina, but to tell you the truth, I wasn't comfortable with that distance -- it was between yardages for me.  Kim had hit really good shots against the two Brittanys and that was the same yardage and very similar wind.

Given Kim's performance and her comments from last week about "not playing into elimination," how did you feel when she missed all those shots and you ended up in elimination?

I think we both just struggled.  I wasn't confident in the shot and I didn't want to put my team in danger.

So, what did you learn and take from your BB experience?

There were times on the show when I saw the old Tina in me and it made me feel that I can compete again. At the same time, one of the hardest things is putting too much pressure on yourself because you are on the Big Break.  People expect you to shoot these great scores and you try to prove the critics wrong, so I think I put too much pressure on myself and I did on the show.

Looking back, there are a couple of things I would have done differently to prepare for it.  I did focus a lot of practice on my short game.  I probably should have focused more energy on my drives. To this day I am still struggling with it.  Last week, not qualifying for sectionals for the Open was tough. 

The best thing I took out of it was that it was an amazing experience.  It is something that not every professional golfer can say they've been a part of.  It's a great series. 

Is it real golf?  Not really, but I knew that before going into it.   People can say they need to play more golf, and yes, I understand that, but it wouldn't be The Big Break without the glass breaking and the wall challenge and all those goofy skills challenges. 

And I love the Golf Channel for picking me -- I'd do it again 1000 times over.  I have so much respect for Golf Channel because they do treat you like first class when you are on-site.  It was awesome -- both the good and the bad.  It was something that I'll never forget.

Well, Tina, I hope you'll come back and give us your thoughts after future shows.  I want to congratulate you on a very classy exit interview, where you shared openly that you have some  hurdles to get over, but that you are confident that you could be one of the most successful BB contestants ever on the LPGA.  Well done!

Thanks.  I have a lot of people who believe in me.   Somebody told me recently, "You need to enjoy your past experiences, and let those build confidence, but at the same time, you can't live in your past." I've done  too much living in my past and I think I need to appreciate what I've done is good -- winning in college and playing in LPGA events -- it was good for me, but it isn't me now.  I'm three years removed from college and I need to move on.  I'm going to Q-school this year in Palm Springs and hopefully find myself on the LPGA.